Eleanor Jeanette (Lake) MCDONALD

MCDONALD, LAKE, MCCAULEY, REESE, AHRENSTORFF, KEIFE, NEIMAN, SCHOENING

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/24/2009 at 10:11:43

Sioux City Journal, Iowa
February 23, 2009

PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- Eleanor J. McDonald, 86, of Primghar passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at her home in Primghar. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at United Church of Primghar in Primghar, with the Rev. Cory Flanigan officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Primghar. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today, with the family present 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home in Primghar. Online condolences can be sent to: gaudian-eldridgefuneralhomes.com.

Eleanor Jeanette McDonald, the daughter of Elmer and Lillian (McCauley) Lake, was born Feb. 21, 1922, on the family farm near Gaza, Iowa. She received her education in Gaza schools, graduating from Gaza High School in 1939. She attended Western Union College in Le Mars, Iowa, for two years and received her teaching certificate. She taught two years at Cushing, Iowa, teaching second and third graders and later moved to Belmond, Iowa, where she taught second graders. On Sept. 22, 1945, she was united in marriage to Harold McDonald at the Congregational Church in Primghar. After their marriage, the couple moved to Alhambra, Calif., where she worked for a short time in a bank. The family later moved to Whittier, Calif., where for many years the couple operated a shoe store. Eleanor was also employed as a CNA in nursing homes. Her husband preceded her in death on May 13, 1987, in California. Eleanor returned to Primghar in 1988, and for a short time she worked at the Primghar Care Center as a CNA. She was a member of the United Church of Primghar, the United Church Women, Faith Circle, sang in the choir and served on various committees of the church. Family and friends were important to her, especially helping and giving to others. Eleanor was also a member of the Primghar Women’s Club and active in the Gaza Alumni Association. She enjoyed reading, cooking, gardening, canning, going to the Spencer Playhouse and loved music.

Eleanor is survived by her children, Bruce McDonald of Cordova, Tenn., Janet and her husband, Doug Reese of Hartley, Iowa, and Brian McDonald of Primghar; a granddaughter, Sheila and her husband, Mitch Ahrenstorff; a sister and her husband, Kathryn and Jim Keife of Whittier, Calif.; also nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and two sisters, Gerry Neiman and Florence Schoening.